Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Tuesday 3 August 1999

Scottish Executive

Conservation

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operation of the Conservation of Seals Act (1970) to ensure that enforcement arrangements are as effective as possible.

Mr John Home Robertson: All Scottish police forces have a Wildlife Liaison Officer whose responsibilities include enforcement of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and investigations of any alleged offences under the Act. The Scottish Executive maintains close contact with these officers to keep the operation of the Act under regular review.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Fee Support Review Committee under Sir George Quigley will report and make recommendations on the effects of the decision that English, Welsh and Northern Irish students pay £1,000 more for attending a four-year degree course than Scottish and other European Union students, and whether the Executive will be prepared to take early action itself, if necessary, to end this situation.

Henry McLeish: The Committee chaired by Sir George Quigley is required by statute to report not later than 1 April, 2000. The Quigley Committee covers only one aspect of the review being carried out by the independent Committee of Inquiry on Student Finance in Scotland. This Committee is required to report by the end of this year at which time the Executive will consider all the recommendations made and its response and put these to Parliament.

European Monetary Union

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that public sector organisations which are within its general responsibility and who are able to borrow in European currencies, review their currency portfolios or any derivative contracts in order to avoid being locked into higher interest payments in the event of the entry of the United Kingdom into European Monetary Union.

Mr Jack McConnell: The only relevant public sector organisations currently borrowing from European Institutions are local authorities.

  The Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are both represented on the Joint Central/Local Government Working Group set up to consider the introduction of the Euro and possible later entry by the United Kingdom. Our involvement is designed to minimise any disruption or disadvantage which may result from UK adoption of the Euro.

Finance

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to require local authority pension funds to have formal statements of investment principles setting out policies of socially responsible investment.

Mr Sam Galbraith: My officials will be consulting interested parties shortly on proposals to require administering authorities responsible for local authority pension funds to publish statements of the principles governing their decisions about investments. Such statements will be required to include the extent to which social, as well as environmental and ethical, considerations are taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments.

Health

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cochlea transplants have been undertaken within the NHS in Scotland over the last five years.

Susan Deacon: The total number of cochlear implants undertaken within the NHS in Scotland in the five years from 1994/95 is 176.

Health

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the locations where cochlea transplants have taken place throughout the last five years, and the number of transplants recorded at each location.

Susan Deacon: Cochlear implants undertaken in Scotland in the last five years have been carried out at the City Hospital, Edinburgh and Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock. The number undertaken at each centre is provided in the table. During that period, 8 children were also referred to Nottingham and 9 children referred to Manchester for cochlear implants.

   

  Number Of Cochlear Implants Carried Out In Scotland: 1994-95 – 1998-99

  

 
 

1994-95
  

1995-96
  

1996-97
  

1997-98
  

1998-99
  


Crosshouse 
Hospital, Kilmarnock
Adult
Paediatric
  

11
10
  

11
12
  

13
17
  

15
19
  

19
21
  


City Hospital,
Edinburgh
  
Adults

6
  

6
  

4
  

6
  

6

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the guidelines on fertility treatment in Scotland as commissioned from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Susan Deacon: The Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland was asked by the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health to undertake a review of the clinical management of infertility services with a particular focus on establishing a model service specification for infertility care in Scotland. It has drawn on the guidelines published by the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians. The Expert Advisory Group has reported to the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland and the Clinical Resources and Audit Group. The report is currently being considered.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish average waiting times for patients requiring IVF treatment for each health board in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is statutorily responsible for setting guidelines and directions on all aspects of IVF, including the collection and disclosure of information. I am advised that for reasons of patient confidentiality information on IVF is available only to licensed IVF Centres and that in any case data on waiting times is not collected centrally.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the actual expenditure of each health board in Scotland in the last financial year on IVF treatment and the estimated expenditure in the current financial year.

Susan Deacon: The information is as follows:-

  Health Board Expenditure on IVF Treatment*

  

 

Actual
  

Estimated
  


Health 
Boards 

1998-1999


1999-2000



Argyll 
and Clyde

£155,615
  

£282,100
  


Ayrshire 
and Arran

£436,417
  

£459,020
  


Borders

£26,000
  

£26,000
  


Dumfries 
and Galloway

£80,784
  

£83,643
  


Fife

£139,000
  

£150,000
  


Forth 
Valley

£129,000
  

£129,000
  


Grampian

£100,000
  

£100,000
  


Greater 
Glasgow

£472,000
  

£472,000
  


Highland

£140,000
  

£140,000
  


Lanarkshire

£337,851
  

£342,000
  


Lothian

£120,000
  

£120,000
  


Orkney

£8,200
  

£20,000
  


Shetland

£52,250
  

£55,000
  


Tayside

£175,000
  

£175,000
  


Western 
Isles

£7,853
  

£7,853
  


 
 
 


Total

£2,379,970


£2,561,616




  *The figures above also include expenditure on other infertility treatments such as Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Insemination (ICSI).

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available about the numbers and percentage of junior doctors whose hours of work are beyond the New Deal limits and what plans it has to ensure that accurate statistics are available in future.

Susan Deacon: The latest statistical returns, as at 31 March 1999, indicate that the hours worked in 90% (over 3600) of junior doctor posts in Scotland meet the New Deal target.

  We have announced joint plans with the British Medical Association (BMA) to support NHS Trusts’ Implementation of New Deal standards through the establishment of a Scottish Implementation Support Group. Part of this Group’s remit will be to review existing hours monitoring arrangements and to work with Trusts to ensure continued progress is made towards full compliance.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that existing security measures are reviewed and, if necessary, upgraded in all NHS hospitals in Scotland and in particular at Monklands hospital in North Lanarkshire.

Susan Deacon: Health Board General Managers and Trust Chief Executives are under a statutory obligation to provide, at all times, a safe and secure environment for their staff, patients in their care and the general public and it is up to Trusts to have in place arrangements for regular or ad-hoc reviews as necessary. At Monklands Hospital security is being reviewed following a recent incident of unauthorised access and the Trust will be implementing the installation of a swipe card access system as a result.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the catchment area of, and population served by Ayr Hospital and Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock.

Susan Deacon: Ayr Hospital and Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock provide acute hospital services for the population of Ayrshire and Arran Health Board totalling 376,500 (General Register Office for Scotland, Quarterly Return third Quarter 1998), as well as some patients from other Health Board areas such as Dumfries and Galloway.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of Her Majesty’s Government Select Committee on Health’s recommendations made during the week ending 23 July 1999, what proposals does it have to tighten up regulation of the private health sector.

Susan Deacon: I intend to publish a consultation paper in the Autumn outlining proposals for the regulation of private health care in Scotland.

Health

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of nursing posts that were (a) vacant and (b) permanently held open in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98 and (iii) 1998-99, for each NHS Trust in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The information available is shown in the table.

  


Qualified nursing staff vacancies 
  in the NHS in Scotland by Trust 




Whole Time Equivalent: at 
  31 March. 




1996

1997

1998




Total 
Vacancies 1
Posts 
held permanently open
Total 
Vacancies 1
Posts 
held permanently open
Total 
Vacancies 1
Posts 
held permanently open


Total

1 079.2 


186.8


1 224.3


478.5


1 145.4


240.2



South 
Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

6.2


6.9


-


-


5.6


-



North 
Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

11.3


-


4.3


-


19.4


-



Ayrshire 
and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust

52.6  
  

5.0  
  

27.1  
  

-  
  

34.5  
  

3.0  
  


Borders 
General Hospital NHS Trust

4.4  
  

1.2  
  

5.7  
  

-  
  

4.4  
  

-  
  


Borders 
Community Health Services NHS Trust

7.4  
  

3.9  
  

..  
  

..  
  

6.0  
  

-  
  


Royal 
Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

8.4  
  

-  
  

4.0  
  

-  
  

12.0  
  

-  
  


Inverclyde 
Royal NHS Trust

7.4  
  

4.8  
  

9.5  
  

0.6  
  

14.3  
  

1.1  
  


Renfrewshire 
Healthcare NHS Trust

80.5  
  

26.6  
  

81.2  
  

0.7  
  

80.0  
  

1.0  
  


Lomond 
Healthcare NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

5.9  
  

-  
  

11.2  
  

-  
  


Argyll 
& Bute NHS Trust

15.2  
  

21.8  
  

27.8  
  

7.6  
  

33.5  
  

9.1  
  


Queen 
Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

16.3  
  

-  
  

9.7  
  

1.3  
  

11.7  
  

2.0  
  


Fife 
Healthcare NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  

51.0  
  

-  
  


Kirkcaldy 
Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

13.4  
  

0.8  
  

10.0  
  

6.2  
  

2.0  
  

-  
  


Southern 
General Hospital NHS Trust

27.7  
  

-  
  

31.8  
  

-  
  

29.2  
  

-  
  


Yorkhill 
NHS Trust

271.1  
  

-  
  

..  
  

..  
  

32.5  
  

17.5  
  


Victoria 
Infirmary NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

51.0  
  

-  
  

54.0  
  

-  
  


West 
Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust

35.9  
  

8.5  
  

26.7  
  

69.1  
  

50.1  
  

82.8  
  


Glasgow 
Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

63.0  
  

-  
  

72.2  
  

-  
  

64.6  
  

-  
  


Stobhill 
NHS Trust

-  
  

-  
  

38.5  
  

-  
  

13.0  
  

-  
  


Glasgow 
Community & Mental Health Services NHS Trust

37.6  
  

-  
  

96.3  
  

96.3  
  

40.8  
  

-  
  


Glasgow 
Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

2.0  
  

-  
  

-  
  

-  
  

-  
  

-  
  


Raigmore 
Hospital NHS Trust

6.7  
  

-  
  

13.6  
  

-  
  

10.7  
  

-  
  


Caithness 
and Sutherland NHS Trust

2.0  
  

0.8  
  

5.6  
  

-  
  

9.2  
  

4.0  
  


Highland 
Communities NHS Trust

26.8  
  

1.0  
  

14.6  
  

1.2  
  

14.7  
  

4.6  
  


Monklands 
and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

-  
  

-  
  

-  
  

-  
  

4.8  
  

-  
  


Law 
Hospital NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  

..  
  


Hairmyres 
& Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

13.0  
  

-  
  

23.0  
  

-  
  


Lanarkshire 
Healthcare NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

44.7  
  

8.6  
  

45.6  
  

8.0  
  


Aberdeen 
Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

55.0  
  

2.0  
  

94.8  
  

15.0  
  


Grampian 
Healthcare NHS Trust

55.9  
  

42.3  
  

36.3  
  

78.6  
  

73.2  
  

38.9  
  


Moray 
Health Services NHS Trust

16.8  
  

-  
  

11.0  
  

-  
  

8.4  
  

-  
  


Orkney 
Health Board 

-  
  

-  
  

1.0  
  

1.0  
  

2.0  
  

1.0  
  


West 
Lothian NHS Trust

45.2  
  

1.3  
  

3.5  
  

4.2  
  

..  
  

..  
  


Royal 
Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

3.0  
  

-  
  

103.3  
  

-  
  

150.0  
  

-  
  


Edinburgh 
Sick Children's NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

74.9  
  

-  
  

..  
  

..  
  


Western 
General Hospitals NHS Trust

41.0  
  

0.2  
  

60.1  
  

-  
  

..  
  

..  
  


East 
& Midlothian NHS Trust

32.1  
  

10.5  
  

36.7  
  

19.0  
  

31.4  
  

31.1  
  


Edinburgh 
Healthcare NHS Trust

15.9  
  

8.1  
  

10.7  
  

-  
  

..  
  

..  
  


Dundee 
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

8.0  
  

2.0  
  

17.5  
  

-  
  

33.5  
  

-  
  


Perth 
& Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

..  
  

..  
  

18.2  
  

1.5  
  

10.3  
  

17.2  
  


Dundee 
Healthcare NHS Trust

5.4  
  

-  
  

35.0  
  

-  
  

6.5  
  

1.8  
  


Angus 
NHS Trust

12.3  
  

-  
  

4.0  
  

-  
  

1.0  
  

-  
  


Stirling 
Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

18.8  
  

0.5  
  

13.5  
  

-  
  

7.0  
  

-  
  


Falkirk 
& District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

20.0  
  

-  
  

13.9  
  

3.1  
  

16.8  
  

-  
  


Central 
Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

88.5  
  

2.0  
  

106.2  
  

169.2  
  

8.9  
  

2.0  
  


Western 
Isles Health Board 

5.3  
  

38.6  
  

4.8  
  

7.3  
  

13.3  
  

-  
  


Dumfries 
& Galloway Acute & Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

14.1  
  

-  
  

9.2  
  

-  
  

3.0  
  

-  
  


Dumfries 
& Galloway Community Health NHS Trust

1.0  
  

-  
  

9.4  
  

1.0  
  

5.0  
  

-  
  


Shetland 
Health Board 

..  
  

..  
  

6.9  
  

-  
  

2.5  
  

-  
  



  1 The vacancy figures relate to vacant posts at 31 March, irrespective of when the vacancy arose. .. nil return Source: ISD (M) 36 ISD Scotland

Health

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of nursing posts, in this financial year, that are (a) vacant and (b) permanently held open, for each acute hospital trust and primary care trust in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not yet available.

Human Rights

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which Minister has responsibility for human rights issues and what its responsibilities are under the European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements relating to human rights.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have Ministerial responsibility for human rights issues. Under the Scotland Act 1998, members of the Scottish Executive have no power to exercise any of their powers in a way which is incompatible with any of the Convention Rights as defined in the Human Rights Act 1998. Scottish Ministers are also responsible for observing and implementing the United Kingdom’s international obligations in Scotland insofar as they relate to devolved matters.

Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of alleged child abuse by former care staff in residential care homes have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal; how many prosecutions have come to court, and how many staff have been convicted in the last period for which figures are available and in each of the previous three years.

Lord Hardie: The statistical information necessary to answer this question is not available. The term "child abuse" is too wide and would cover a huge spectrum of crimes – both common law and statutory. Information is not collated by reference to type of crime, occupation of accused, (either at the time of the offence or at present) or locus of crime. It is not anticipated that this type of statistical information will be recorded. Present statistical information refers to the number of cases prosecuted in the Summary and Solemn Courts.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what are the most up-to-date plans for the premises used by Scotland’s Law Officers in Whitehall and whether these will be available as the key location to further the Scottish Executive’s interests in relation to law and justice matters within Whitehall.

Lord Hardie: The premises at 2 Carlton Gardens in London were formerly used by the Scottish Law Officers and their Legal Secretariat, and were vacated as from 2 July this year. No future use of Carlton Gardens by the Scottish Executive is planned.

  Scottish Law Officers are now based in Chambers Street, Edinburgh. As with other Scottish Ministers they have access to accommodation in Dover House, Whitehall, as required.

Legal Aid

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been appointed to the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1 April 1999 and what is the nature and grade of their appointments.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information is set out in the table.

   

  Appointments to the Scottish Legal Aid Board from 1 April 1999 to 23 July 1999

  

Grade

Number of temporary 
  appointments


Number of permanent 
  appointments


Total



Chief Executive

-
  

1
  

1
  


Grade 3 
(Team Leader)

1
  

1
  

2
  


Grade 2 
(Assessment Officer)

8
  

3
  

11
  


Grade 1 
(Administrative Assistant)

6
  

7
  

13
  


Total

15


12


27

Legal Aid

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Legal Aid Board staff have (a) resigned; (b) been dismissed from their posts, and (c) been suspended since 1 January 1999 and what categories of staff fall into each of (a), (b) and (c).

Mr Jim Wallace: The information is set out in the table.

  

Grade 



1
(Admin Assistant) 
   
  

2 
(Assessment
Officer) 
  

3
(Team Leader) 
  

4
(Specialist) 
  

5
(Assistant Manager) 
  

6
(Manager) 
  

7
(Director) 
  

(Chief
Executive) 
  

Total 
  



Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm
Temp
Perm


Audit and 
Compliance






1* 
  


1 
  









-


2



Chief Executive’s 
office
















1*** 
  

-


1



Finance 
(including Facilities)


3 
  


1 
  




1 
  









-


5



Information 
Systems






1 
  








1 
  



-


2



Legal Services














1 
  



-


1



Operations 
including Criminal Applications 
Civil Applications
Treasury 
  

4 
  

5 
  

1 
  

9 
  




1 
  


1 
  




1** 
  



5


17



Human Resources

2 
  




1 
  












3


-



Total 

6


8


1


10


1


2



3



1





3



1


8


28



Total resignations


















34



Total dismissals

















1




Total suspensions

















1





  * Dismissal

  ** Suspension

  *** fixed term contract

Legal Aid

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are set by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for (a) response to telephone calls; (b) response to letters; (c) assessment of accounts in civil legal aid, criminal legal aid and legal advice and assistance respectively, and (d) payment of accounts, when the various targets were set, and to what extent these targets have been met since 1 March 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information is set out in the table.

  

 

Target


Performance in 
  June 1999



Response 
to telephone calls.

None set.
  

-
  


Response 
to letters.

Full reply within 
  15 days.
Target set in February 
  1998.
  

Information not 
  available.
  


Assessment 
of accounts:-
 
Civil legal aid*
Criminal legal aid*
Advice and Assistance*
  

All of the following 
  targets were set in March 1999.
83% assessed within 
  4 weeks.
85% assessed within 
  2 weeks.
90% assessed within 
  2 weeks.
  

 
 
 
77%
50%
84%
  


Payment 
of accounts.

None set.
  

-
  



  *Excludes payment period of 1 to 2 weeks.

Legal Aid

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and what is the disposition of these staff.

Mr Jim Wallace: The number of staff by department employed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board as at 23 July 1999 is set out in the table.

  

Department

Whole time equivalent 
  staff



Audit and 
Compliance

13.0
  


Chief Executive’s 
Office

2.0
  


Finance 
&common services

36.2
  


Information 
systems

13.0
  


Legal Services

13.0
  


Operations 


167.0
  


Human Resources 
& Communications

13.6
  


Policy

2.0
  


Total

259.8

Public Sector Ombudsmen

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for public sector Ombudsmen, whether it plans a review of all Ombudsmen’s functions as is happening in England, and whether it will take account of the models in Eire and Northern Ireland.

Mr Jack McConnell: Section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998 requires the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the investigation of complaints of maladministration against the Scottish Executive. Until the necessary Act of the Scottish Parliament can be passed, the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Complaints of Maladministration) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1351) provides for a Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to investigate complaints in respect of the Scottish Executive and a range of public bodies. This office is held by Michael Buckley, who is also the UK Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.

  As part of its preparation for the necessary legislation, the Scottish Executive will be examining the current arrangements for public sector Ombudsmen in Scotland. In doing so we would expect to examine and draw on experience in the UK and elsewhere. In the meantime, the Scottish Executive would be happy to receive comments from members on the operation of the current arrangements.

Rural Forum

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the financial position of Rural Forum Scotland has been monitored and, if so, whether it will provide details of such monitoring.

Ross Finnie: Monitoring of Rural Forum’s overall financial position was a matter for that organisation’s Board.

Rural Forum

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any consultation with other rural development organisations prior to the discontinuance of funding to Rural Forum Scotland.

Ross Finnie: There was no discontinuance of funding to Rural Forum. Funding commitments to Rural Forum continued up until the Scottish Office was notified that the organisation had been put into liquidation by the Board.

Social Security

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any responsibility for the administration of social security schemes in Scotland and, if so, what is the extent of the responsibility.

Susan Deacon: No, that is a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Security.

Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to adhere to the expenditure plans for motorways and trunk roads improvement in the period 1999 to 2002 as outlined in Serving Scotland’s Needs (March 1999).

Mr Jack McConnell: The expenditure plans set out in ‘Serving Scotland’s Needs’ are the current estimates of spending for Scotland’s programmes, including motorways and trunk roads. As I said during the debate on Financial Issues on 24 June, I intend to make a statement in the autumn on the financial expenditure announced in the partnership agreement, and our budget proposals for 2000-01.

Warm Deal Budget

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the funds which have been allocated to the Warm Deal for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000 and for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The budget for the Warm Deal in the current year is £12 million. I hope to make an announcement shortly about the resources available in 2000-01 and 2001-02.